Stories of the Sahabah

The Martyrdom of Sahabah Anas bin Nadhr (R.A.A.)

Anas bin Nadhr (raa) was
one of the Sahabahs who had missed the great campaign of Badr. He very much
regretted to have missed the honor of participating in the first and the
most illustrious battle for Islam. He longed for a chance wherein he could
make amends for Badr. He did not have to wait for long. The battle of Uhud
came about in the following year. He joined the army with the most determined
zeal. Despite heavy odds, the Muslims were gaining the upper hand, when some
people made a blunder and the Muslims had to suffer a reverse. The Prophet
(pbuh) had posted a band of fifty archers to guard a pass in the rear against
the enemy cavalry. They had definite instructions not to move from their
positions until further orders from him. But when the Archers saw the Muslims
gaining victory and the enemy in full flight, they left their positions believing
that the battle was over and it was time to join in the pursuit and get on
to the booty. The leader of the band tried his utmost to check them by reminding
them of the Prophet's command and he also tried to solicit them to stay on,
but no more than ten archers listened to him, while the others argued that
the orders were given by the Prophet (pbuh) only for the duration of the
actual fight. The enemy cavalry then noticed the unguarded pass in the rear,
made a flank movement and forced a passage through it. The Muslims who were
pre-occupied with the booty were caught unguarded. In such a state of affairs
Anas (raa) saw Sa'ad bin Ma'az (raa) passing in front of him. He shouted
to him: "O, Sa'ad! Where are you going? By Almighty! I smell the fragrance
of Paradise coming from Mount Uhud." Saying this, he threw himself into
the very thick of the enemy and fought till he met his martyrdom. After the
battle, it was found that his body had been mauled and mutilated to such
an extent that only his sister could identify him and that barely from the
finger tips. No less than eighty wounds of arrows and swords were counted
on his body.

Those who strive in the
Path of The Almighty with sincerity and devotion taste the pleasure of Paradise
even in this world.